Heroes of the Storm
- June 2, 2015
- Blizzard Entertainment
Heroes of the Storm is like a MOBA highlight reel, cutting right to the best moments and doing away with all the boring bits. It's a fast, lean, and relentlessly fun 5v5 experience.
"Heroes of the Storm" is a fantasy action multiplayer online battle arena game, featuring characters from various Blizzard universes in 5 vs. 5 battles. The game offers multiple game modes, including co-op and versus , providing diverse and engaging experiences for 2 or more players. With its unique blend of beloved characters and intense action, this game transports players into a thrilling and dynamic world of epic battles.
Reviews
- Heroes of the Storm offers a fun and fast-paced gameplay experience, with matches typically lasting around 20-30 minutes, making it accessible for both casual and competitive players.
- The game features a diverse roster of characters from various Blizzard franchises, providing a unique blend of heroes and gameplay styles that fans of the company will appreciate.
- The starter pack provides excellent value for new players, offering a selection of heroes, skins, and an exclusive mount, making it easier to jump into the game without extensive grinding.
- The matchmaking system can be problematic, often leading to unbalanced teams and frustrating experiences, particularly in quick matches where mirror matches are common.
- There are significant issues with bugs and performance, with some players experiencing long wait times for fixes and difficulties with the game's launcher and connectivity.
- The game's free-to-play model can be restrictive, requiring substantial time or money to unlock heroes and participate in ranked play, which may deter some players.
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by fast-paced, action-packed matches with a variety of maps and mechanics that encourage strategic play. Players appreciate the polished visuals, sound design, and a well-balanced roster of heroes, although some express concerns about the free-to-play model and matchmaking issues. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with innovative mechanics and a strong amount of content, despite some criticisms regarding visuals and competitive balance.
“Fast-paced and action-packed gameplay.”
“You start the game with a tutorial in basic game mechanics which eases you into the experience.”
“Really well polished, great models/details, sound effects, and music enhance the gameplay experience which is fast-paced, 5v5 with all sorts of objectives depending on the map being played.”
“Disappointing visuals, restrictive free-to-play model, gameplay reductions lessen competitive edge, fails to convince outsiders of the genre's merit and appeal.”
“However, there still are a few things to nail down, such as the matchmaking system or the mechanics that govern acquiring experience and in-game gold, but so far, it seems like a winner for Blizzard and its players.”
“Despite a hefty amount of grinding, Blizzard presents a strong amount of content and gameplay in an aesthetically pleasing package.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players expressing disappointment over the need to lower settings for optimal performance despite having capable systems. However, others praised the polished visuals and aesthetic appeal, highlighting the game's strong audio and unique character designs. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, there are concerns about performance issues and their impact on the gaming experience.
“Despite a hefty amount of grinding, Blizzard presents a strong amount of content and gameplay in an aesthetically pleasing package.”
“Fast-paced and satisfying action. Multiple arenas with bonus objectives add variety. Well-balanced collection of heroes, which can all be earned through gameplay. Great visuals, voice acting, and soundtrack.”
“Innovative MOBA mechanics, lots of varied battlegrounds, accessible to many players, plenty of interesting heroes so far, polished visuals, short match length.”
“Many players reported that they have a gaming system capable of running other games at high graphics settings, but for this game, they need to use low graphics settings to get 60 fps.”
“[disappointing visuals, restrictive free-to-play model, gameplay reductions lessen competitive edge, fails to convince outsiders of the genre's merit and appeal.]”
“[disappointing visuals, restrictive free-to-play model, gameplay reductions lessen competitive edge, fails to convince outsiders of the genre's merit and appeal.]”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story revolves around two players selecting from six heroes to embark on cooperative missions, utilizing a limited set of units based on their chosen characters. As players progress, they gain experience and level up to a maximum of 15, unlocking new abilities that enhance their strength for future missions.
“The story unfolds beautifully as you and a friend choose from six unique heroes, working together to complete missions that are tailored to your chosen characters.”
“Each hero's journey is enriched by the experience gained from gameplay, allowing them to level up to 15 and unlock new abilities that enhance the narrative and gameplay experience.”
“The cooperative missions not only challenge your skills but also deepen the connection to the story as you strategize with your teammate based on the strengths of your heroes.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters or care about the outcome.”
“There are moments where the plot seems to stall, leaving players feeling lost and unmotivated to continue.”
“The narrative is predictable and fails to introduce any meaningful twists or engaging elements.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding in the game excessive, requiring significant effort to unlock heroes and game modes. However, many appreciate the substantial content and enjoyable gameplay that Blizzard offers, all presented in an appealing aesthetic.
“The game is fun for a few matches here and there, but it takes an enormous amount of grinding to unlock heroes and even game modes.”
“Despite a hefty amount of grinding, Blizzard presents a strong amount of content and gameplay in an aesthetically pleasing package.”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its polish and ability to enhance the fast-paced gameplay experience, complementing the visuals and sound effects effectively. Reviewers appreciate the soundtrack's contribution to the overall atmosphere, making the action feel satisfying and engaging across various arenas and objectives.
“The sound effects and music enhance the gameplay experience, which is fast-paced and filled with various objectives depending on the map being played.”
“The fast-paced and satisfying action, combined with multiple arenas and bonus objectives, adds variety to the game. The visuals, voice acting, and soundtrack are all great.”
“The well-balanced collection of heroes can all be earned through gameplay, making the experience even more rewarding.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report occasional frame rate drops and stuttering during intense gameplay. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be satisfactory for most players, but there are areas that could benefit from further refinement.
“The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth performance even on lower-end hardware.”
“I was impressed by how well the game runs after the latest optimization updates; it feels incredibly responsive.”
“The developers have done a fantastic job with optimization, ensuring that loading times are minimal and gameplay is seamless.”
“The game suffers from severe performance issues, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“Optimization is lacking, resulting in frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“Despite the game's potential, poor optimization leads to frustrating lag and long loading times.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely regarded as one of its standout features, adding a delightful and engaging element to the overall experience.
“Probably one of the best parts of the game is the humor infused into it.”
Critic Reviews
Heroes of the Storm Review
Heroes of the Storm is Blizzard's attempt to bring multiplayer online battle arenas to the masses, and it succeeds, which isn't necessarily a good thing.
60%Heroes of the Storm review
Heroes of the Storm is like a MOBA highlight reel, cutting right to the best moments and doing away with all the boring bits. It's a fast, lean, and relentlessly fun 5v5 experience.
90%Heroes of the Storm Review - Fun, For a Little While
Heroes of the Storm is fun, but it doesn't have much to keep you coming back consistently.
65%